Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Sweet, spicy, creamy, and crunchy, this Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe is the taste sensation you’ve been waiting for! With an amazing sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp, this easy shrimp recipe can be a snack, appetizer, or main dish!

When you’re craving a quick, easy, and flavor-packed keto shrimp recipe, Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is the dish for you. There’s unbelievable flavor in this recipe, and the crave-worthy sauce is so good that you’ll want to lick your plate clean. Not keto? No worries – we’ll tell you how to make this the conventional way.

Skip the deep-fat fryer and make this bang bang shrimp recipe in your air fryer! With less mess, less fat, and less time, you can be noshing on something delish in a jiffy. 

We love this air fryer shrimp recipe for dinner, but it’s also the perfect appetizer or snack. We’ll make it for friends when they come to visit, and they always think we’ve been working away in the kitchen for hours!

The genius behind this recipe is that the sauce can be made ahead of time, and the shrimp can be cooked in minutes. Love shrimp? Give it a try!

WHAT IS KETO BANG BANG SHRIMP?

Made famous by chain restaurants across the USA, Bang Bang Shrimp is a dish of breaded and fried (or, in this case, air-fried) shrimp with a crispy breading, served with a sweet and spicy sauce. Made with Sriracha and sweet chili sauce, the mayo-based sauce is at once spicy, sweet, creamy, and addictive.

You can serve the sauce on the side or drizzle it over the top of the shrimp before serving, but we always put out extra sauce because it’s just that darn good.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE AIR FRYER BANG BANG SHRIMP

• Shrimp – See our notes below on the best shrimp to make bang bang shrimp.
• Mayonnaise – We like using avocado mayo, but use what you have.
• Sriracha sauce – This fiery hot Thai condiment is a key ingredient in bang bang sauce.
• Thai sweet chili sauce – You can find this in the Asian food section of most supermarkets. Chili garlic sauce will also work.
• Vinegar – White vinegar is fine.
• Ginger – Grated fresh ginger, NOT dried.
• Sugar substitute – If you’re not worried about the carbs, use regular granulated white sugar.
• Scallions – AKA green onions; sliced thinly.
• Pork Panko crumbs – Purchase them or make your own – see below. If you’re not worried about the carbs in breadcrumbs, use regular Panko.
• Salt and pepper

OPTIONAL GARNISHES

• Lettuce leaves – Bibb or green leaf lettuce.
• Parsley – Fresh parsley chopped finely.

Lemon – Cut into wedges.

HOW TO MAKE KETO AIR FRYER BANG BANG SHRIMP

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

• Whisk the mayonnaise with the Sriracha, Thai chili sauce, vinegar, ginger, and sugar or sugar substitute until smooth. 
• Add the scallions (chopped green onions) and combine. Keep in the fridge until ready to use.

FOR THE SHRIMP:

• Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
• Place the remainder of the mayo in a small bowl. Then add the pork Panko to a separate bowl and season it with salt and pepper.
• Add the shrimp to the mayo to coat well, then press them into the pork Panko. 
• Transfer the breaded shrimp to a wire rack until they’re all breaded. 
• Refrigerate the coated shrimp for 15 minutes before air-frying it so the breading sets up.

• Preheat your air fryer to 400 F.
• Place shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray and cook for about 5 minutes. You may have to work in batches if all the shrimp don’t fit without overlapping.
• Flip the shrimp and air fry for another 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through and golden brown. 
• Serve immediately over thinly sliced lettuce with extra leaves to act as lettuce cups for serving. Drizzle the crispy shrimp with the creamy sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and set out lemon wedges.
• Refrigerate the coated shrimp for 15 minutes before air frying, so the breading sets up.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400-F.
• Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray and cook for about 5 minutes. You may have to work in batches if all the shrimp don’t fit without overlapping.
• Flip the shrimp and air fry another 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through.
• Serve immediately over thinly sliced lettuce with extra leaves to act as lettuce cups for serving. Drizzle the shrimp with the creamy sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and set out lemon wedges.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH LOW-CARB AIR FRYER BANG BANG SHRIMP

We love noshing down on this zesty dish by piling the shrimp and sauce into a lettuce cup. You could also serve them in a tortilla or dig into a bowlful or plateful of them. Since you have your air fryer out, pair them as a side dish to Panko Chicken.

Sides are optional, but if you want to include the shrimp as a part of a heartier meal, pair them with a salad and a side of fried rice or cauliflower rice to keep this meal low in net carbs. Want to mix this meal up but still serve crispy air fryer shrimp? Try this savory tiger sauce instead!

Leftovers

Keto Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp are best eaten fresh. You can pack up the leftovers in an airtight container, put them into the fridge for a day or two, and crisp them back up in the air fryer before serving.

If you think you’re going to have leftovers, don’t put any sauce on them. Once sauced, the breading will start to get soggy. Unsauced bang bang shrimp can be reheated in the air fryer for a minute or two to warm.

Perfect for weeknight dinners or as a delicious appetizer, the whole family will love this great recipe! It’s low on the carbs but not on the flavor, making it a healthier alternative for those on keto or low-carb diets.

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